Araya Rejects PPD Call to Reconsider Party Membership: “I Have Nothing to Reconsider”

Pedro Araya has rejected a call from the Metropolitan Council of Chile’s Party for Democracy to reconsider his membership, saying he has no intention of leaving the party.

The council approved the request after discontent grew over the senator’s recent contacts with the government during negotiations on an executive-backed constitutional security reform. Araya, who sits on the Senate Security Commission, said the dispute followed an interview with La Segunda in which he said he was willing to “cross the aisle” on security issues. He argued that the phrase had been taken out of context.

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I have nothing to reconsider.

Speaking on Canal 13’s Mesa Central, Araya said no political sector had exclusive ownership of the task of resolving security problems. He criticized the council for focusing on the headline rather than reading and discussing the full interview, saying that approach created an artificial controversy and showed political parties’ disconnection from the public.

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I do not want to leave the PPD, but if they expel me, I will not stay where I am not wanted.

“I have nothing to reconsider,” Araya said, describing his conduct as entirely proper and saying he was clear about his political home. He added that he did not want to leave the PPD, but would not remain if the party expelled him.

Araya said lawmakers should support good measures regardless of whether they come from President Kast, the Communist Party or elsewhere. He backed a proposal to toughen Chile’s juvenile criminal responsibility law, calling youth crime a serious problem. But he said the government’s constitutional reform had several gaps because it focused on repression without enough prevention. He also criticized the absence of measures addressing ports and drug trafficking at sea in a security agenda for a maritime country.

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There is no ownership by the left, the right or independents of resolving this issue if we do not reach an agreement.